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Texas Lawmakers Want to Ban Transgender Marriages

Lawmakers in the state of Texas are trying to overturn a state law that allows transgender people to marry spouses of the opposite sex legally. Should they be successful, it would stop transgender people from marrying their partners and could potentially invalidate existing marriages.

A provision on a larger bill passed two years ago allowed trans people to legally marry using proof of their sex reassignment surgery. However, Republican legislators are now saying that the provision was a mistake.

A spokesperson for Gov. Rick Perry says that he never intended to sign any bill that would allow transgender people to marry:

"The governor has always believed and advocated that marriage is between a man and a woman."

State senator Tommy Williams also says that he wants to clear up confusion for county clerks, who were never supposed to be able to marry transgender people, stating:

"The Texas Constitution clearly defines marriage between one man and one woman."